I can’t believe it – 4 years and 8 months after I started this quilt the quilting is finished. Now on to the binding!! It sure took a lot less time to hand quilt it then it did to piece it!! I will tally up the numbers and do a blog post on it when I get the binding done, wash it and have it presentable for a photo of the finished quilt.
The last corner is quilted
I am going to take my time with putting the binding on as I want to do it well. I have off white fabric left over from the top and I need to start cutting it in bias strips for making binding. My original intention was to do blue binding matching the backing fabric but I don’t have enough for bias strips – I have enough for straight edge but not the bias which the curves really do need. I have the scallops basted in place so tonight I am going to lay it out on the floor and trim the edges. Next week I will start to work on the binding.
Now that the frame is once again empty – a rare sight as I put a new quilt top on the frame usually within days of taking a quilt off as I always have several quilt tops waiting in line – I will sew the backing fabric for the Christmas quilt and get that one on the frame. I’m not sure how I will mark it for quilting so most likely this weekend I will get busy getting the backing ready – see what I have in the basket in the way of batting – the only package that I have unopened is only 60 by 60 but I might just go ahead and baste some pieces to use. I have no place local that sells the Quilters Dream batting that I use (as there is no local quilt shop) and I don’t want to wait to put it on the frame. I have so many pieces here in a large basket that it won’t be that hard to baste it together – I use the sewing machine to do that.
Finally the rain is past us, we have not had rain since 9 this morning. The next 6 days at least are supposed to be sunshine and around 60 degrees at least – I am taking a wait and see approach to that! The weathermen have not been very good on predictions lately. At least we had rain and not snow. One of my many sister’s -in-law lives in Nebraska and they have snow to deal with today-lot’s of it!!
{ 27 comments }
ohhh this is beautiful Karen, i love it!!
.-= RosaMaría´s last blog ..my progress =-.
thank you Rosa Maria! It has been a long time to the finish line on this quilt but worth it.
Congratulations Karen!!!!
Your quilting is magnificent!
I agree, the time spent seems to have been absolutely worth it (and not at all insane) . . . your quilt really is wonderful.
Wow, I cannot believe how long you have been working on this quilt! You must have a great amount of patience and a tremendous work ethic. It is absolutely gorgeous …. at least what you have shown of it. The quilting is beautiful and really makes the quilt! Come on, Karen, get that binding on (but yes do take you time and do it well) as we out here in blog land are dying to see the full quilt! Can’t wait!!! By the way, have you ever made bias binding using a square of fabric?
I am so happy and excited can hardly wait to see the binding on it.
I trimmed the scallops this evening and this weekend I will start to cut binding – I don’t really think I will be sewing this weekend though – finally it will be nice outside and I need to get some outside things done if my neck doesn’t bother me too much.
What a beautiful labor of love! I am excited for you!
.-= Sherry R´s last blog ..End of the Week =-.
Just lovely……….a pleasure to see!
Hola Karen, muchas felicidades por llegar a la tan ansiada meta de terminar su colcha, que hermosa labor has hecho, te mereces millones de aplausos, tienes unas manos maravillosas, me gustaria estar alli para darte un gran abrazo.
Besos
Odette
.-= Odette´s last blog ..A Christmas Wish – free BOM =-.
Your hand quilting is beautiful. The binding will take awhile with curves but it will be worth the time.
Our weather is only going to be 50′s all week but the sun is supposed to be here Wed.-Fri.
.-= Wanda´s last blog ..All fired up. =-.
thank you all for your compliments. Yes now on to the binding which will take awhile and I’m not going to rush it just as I did not rush making this quilt
Karen
Karen, Yay! Congratulations, now onto the the finishing. What a relief for you. I can’t wait to see the whole thing. I am sure it is just gorgeous. I love all the hand quilting. Just perfection!
Well done!
Can’t wait to see the whole finished quilt!
Oh Karen, your quilt is so lovely and truly a work of love. I can’t imagine spending years making a quilt, so I do congratulate you hand quilters.
Our weather here in Ontario is much like yours, our rain also has passed and my dog is saying that he needs his walk…
Can’t wait to see the Christmas quilt as I loved the bright colours of it.
This is a beautiful quilt.You do fabulous quilting! Are you still using the paddle thimble? (I have been lurking & following your progress.)
I have also finished piecing my Jane Stickle but am not though quilting! I put it aside to piece & quilt a Sunbonnet Sue for a G-Granddaughter’s 5th birthday coming in March.
Thanks so much for sharing your progress, it has been food for my quilting soul!
Rambler
I’m dancing around the house singing “my quilt is done, my quilt is done, yay my quilt is done.”
LOL I have to laugh at Melanie!!! Not quite done yet…. LOL
Crispy
WOOHOO!!!! Congratulations Karen!! (and Melaine!) What a huge feeling of satisfaction, eh? Can’t wait to see the whole thing!
.-= Bren´s last blog ..My Kid’s Favorite Songs =-.
LOL – Mel you will have to wait a little bit for the quilt but you will see it at Thanksgiving.
Thanks everyone. I might start cutting the binding tonight – we just got home after being out all day – it was so nice to be outside in this weather instead of dealing with rain.
Congrats on finishing Dear Jane! That’s a lot of work! How many blocks are there altogether?
.-= Astrid´s last blog ..Place Mats & Table Mats =-.
Congratulations Karen!!! It’s a great feeling to be finished with such a long term project, even though I do know that you will miss it. I can’t wait to see a picture of the whole quilt all quilted and bound. Those scallops aren’t really a walk in the park…I think I was more frustrated by those in making my DJ than any other part of it.
.-= Ranette´s last blog ..Red & white quilt….finished!!! =-.
Congratulations, Karen! Job well done, very well done!
.-= Anya´s last blog ..Tired of Pillowcases Yet? =-.
I am not looking forward to the scallop binging!
how wonderful to see a ‘Dear Jane’ that is nearing completion. I haven’t even thought that far ahead. Loved scrolling backward in its progress. Your Baltimore Bliss is a lovely. Wow. I will definitely be coming back to visit. Thanks for finding and visiting my blog.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..First Nations/Aboriginal Fridays =-.
I can’t believe you are done. You’ve got to enter it in some contest or fair. Your work is so beautiful. Good job and good for you. Congrats.
.-= Nanette´s last blog ..Quilts to Give =-.
Well done Karen…It’s a great feeling to be finished with such a long term project, the scallop border will be a beautiful finish!
Julia ?
.-= Julia´s last blog ..My Apron… =-.
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